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R. S. MOUNCE. I RELEASABLE HANDLE PoR DIAPHRAGM cuRrAlNs.

' 4 APPLICATION man APR. 14. \a|9. 1,314,533. Patentedsept. 2,1919.

. n J6 J2' Z l AH O @if c I. A A 1 .76 J9! l la a Il .j/ l 1 :u A Z0( l? l Z9 i O o; f l'u @MW lbf-@J UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

ROBERT S. MOUNCE, F RUTI-IERFORI), NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURTAIN SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RELEASABLE HANDLE FOR DIAPHRAGM-CU'RTAINS.

Application filed April 14, 1919.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT S. MOUNGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Releasable Handles for Diaphragm-Curtains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to side curtains for use on the interiors of coach vestibules and j has for its object the provision of a releasable handle therefor to provide an automatic uncoupling in case of emergency.

v A vestibule curtain of this type is usually secured to the vestibule of one coach just inside of the diaphragm at one side of the passageway by means of a spring-mounted curtain roller the tension of which tends to wind up the curtain while its free edge is arranged t0 be detachably coupled to the vestibule of the adj aeent connected coach by a handle on the curtain that is engaged with a hook on the vestibule to which the curtain is detachably secured. A companion eurtain is similarly mounted on the opposite side of the passageway, the spring roller mounting of one curtain being opposite the detachable handle of the other curtain, one curtain being carried by one coach and the other by the adjacent coach.

In practice these curtains are often torn by separation of the coaches while the curtain is connected to the two vestibules. The trainmen in charge of the handling of coaches in switch yards and elsewhere frequently forget to uneouple the curtains when they uncouple the coaches and thus as the coaches separate the curtains are torn.

. The present invention provides a quick automatic release 0f the curtain handle from the adjacent coach in such circumstances, the arrangement being such that the connection between the handle and the coach will sustain all normal strains due to the spring pull of the roller but will yield or give way when subjected to abnormal strains.

In order that the invention and the manner of its use may be readily understood a preferred embodiment of the same is set forth in the accompanying drawing and in the following detailed description, it being understood that as the invention is susceptible of embodiment in construetional forme other than that specically illus Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

serial No. 290,029.

trated and described, the drawing and description are to be taken in an illustrative and not in an unnecessarily limiting sense. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a handle, showing the same associated in connected relation with the car post'and curtain;

Fig. 2 is a top plan or end view of the handle;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the side plate removed to show the interior mechanism; and

Figli is a fragmentary view showing a slight modification.

Having particular reference to the drawings, the vestibule curtain is indicated at l1 with its reinforced free edge at 12. A post 13 of an adjacent car is provided with a hook 14. It is to be understood that that edge of the curtain 11 opposite the reinforced edge 12 is mounted upon a spring-actuated roller in the usual manner, said roller being suitably mounted upon the car adjacent that carrying the post 13.

The quick-releasable handle of the present invention comprises generally a foundation or reinforcing bar 15 advantageously square in cross section with its ends 15u and 15b outturned to constitute a yoke-like member. Upon the two side faces of the yoke member 15 at the ends thereof are riveted or otherwise suitably secured side plates 16 and 17 which advantageously extend around the end of the yoke member and upon the opposite side in opposition to the irst portion of said plate thus providing housings with opposed openings, that is to say the openin of one housing facing that of the other. T ese side plates 16 and 17 have projecting wing portions 16 and 17a ywhich overlie and partly embrace the reinforcing rods 12 of the curtain and other wing portions 16b and 17h hinged to the plates proper and embracing the opposite side of the curtain rod reinforcement, the same being firmly attached to the curtain by means of the rivets or bolts 18.

Within the housing 17 is pivoted at 19 a bolt or shackle 20 arranged to spa-n the space between the two housings carried by the ends 15a and 15b of the yoke, member. Within the housing 16 is pivoted at 21 a detent 22 normally disposed at right angles to the shackle or bolt 20 and rovided with a V-ehaped recess 28 in its slde forthe reception of the correspondingly shaped end 20a of the bolt or shackle. This detent 22 is normally pressed into engagement with the end of the bolt or shackle by means of the compression spring-24; disposed within the housing 16 at the rear of the detent.

In Fig. 4L of the drawing is shown a slight modification wherein a compression leaf spring is substituted for the compression coil springof Fig. 3. Here the spring 24a is riveted to the outturned end 15a oi' the reinforcing bar 15 instead of lbeing` mounted uponthe'endwall of the housing as in the case of the coil spring. The' action is precisely the same in both instances.

It willi be observed that `by reason of the frictionall engagement vof the end of the belt or shackle withinI the V-shaped recess of the detent, which engagement is yieldingly maintained by meansl of the spring 24, my improved handle will remain closed and in engagement with the hookl under such=strain 'las 'is applied `thereto by the spring-mounted curtain rod,`and may be used-fas 'an ordinary handle for pulling out thecurtain vfor operative connection with the coaclnvarrd urthermorethe said handle will "not open upas long as the two coaches remain coupledtogether. However, it will release theY end= oftheshacklev or bolt, permittingfthel same'to-open up and to disengageiromthe hook Min; case of abnormal strain 'considerably less than that required to tear or rip the curtain, `wherefore-it fellows that if the curtain is allowed toV remaink coupled to the two vestibules whilethe coaches are-pulled apart, thisimproved handle will automatically release theedge ofthe curtain thus avoiding the tearing or destruction thereof.

I claim: p

l. In a vestibule curtain,the combination with a-springactuatedroller mounting at-` tachedto one edgethereof, ofa handlevattached to the free edge'of said curtain, said handle including a yoke member, a bolt pivoted to one side of and spanning the spread of the yoke, a spri'n'gfpressed detentl mounted in the'sidefof the yoke and yieldingly `engaging the free end' of the bolt, "whereby the boltwill sustain the normal spring 'pull of the Irollerb'ut will yield to abnormal strain.

2.- The y'combination with a spring-actw ated curtain mounted at one edge upon a roller, of a 'quick-'release handle attached to the free edge of said curtain, said handle 5including a yoke member,` 'a-fbolt lpivoted to one :side fof' l and spanning v the spread of fthe yoke, -a` spring-pressed detent mounted in the 'other side i of thel yoke and 'acting' in a direction longitudinally of the bolt'to f'frictiona'lly engage ithe' 'rtree endfthereof, whereby the boltwill sustain 'the normal spring pull of the roller but will yield to abnormal strain.

3. The combination with a curtain mounted at one edge upon a spring-actuated roller, of a quick release handle attached to the free edge of said curtain, said handle including a yoke-shaped bar, side platesattached to the out-turned ends of the bar to `provide housings with openings opposed one to the other, a bolt pivoted to the housin at one side of the yoke and* spanning thespread thereef, a spring-pressed detent mounted in the housing 1 at theother side of the yke and 'yielding'ly engaging the free endof the bolt whereby thebolt'will sustain lthe normal' spring pull lot the'l rol-ler but willyield to abnormal strain.

4. The combination withfacurta-in mdunted 4at 'one edge uponJ vaspring-'actuated roller, of =a quick release'handleattached to the reeedge of `said curtain, 'said handle including ia `yoke'-shape"bar 'oi square"cross section, side tnde'endl platesattachedl to the outlturned endsl offthe bar to provide housings with openings opposedone tothe other, a -bolt pivoted withintlie vhousing 'at one sidek of the yokeand'spanning the spread thereof, and a spring-pressed detent piveted withintlfiey housing opposite tliebolt pivot and extending' at 'right-"anglesto the'blt and frictionally'engaging thefree endfof the belt, whereby the fbolt "will sustain the nor-mal spring pull 'of tlieroller but will yield toabnormal' strain. t

5. The combinationwith a'l'curtain mounted: at oneedge upona springiactuated roller, of a quick 'release yhandle Vattached tothe free edge :of said curtain,`fsaid" handle-ins cluding a lyoke member, affbolt pivotedlto one side of andspanning'the spreadiofthe yoke, a detent pi'voted`l` at the ctlerf's'id'eof the fyokeand'extending at right angles to the bolt, `a `V'shaped'notchin"tl'1`e ifree end of the' detent to 'receive the correspondingly shaped` freeJv end of the bolt, "and'as'pring at; the rear ofI the detent andactn'gg at right angles thereto to press the 'detenty into engagementwith the ybolt end whereby the bolt will 'sustain the normalfspriiigpull' of the rollerb'ut willjyieldtol abnormal strain.`

"6. The combination L'with i a curtainmountedffat one edge upon a-springactuatedroller, of a lquick"release 4"handle attached to ithe free `edge ofsaid'curtain, said handle' in'- cluding'a yoke shaped bafrfside plates'attached "to the out-turned 'ends f"the-bar to providehousings with openings opposed one te vthe other, a bolt "pivoted lto the housing at'one 'side Jlof the vvyoke and spanning the spread thereof, a detent pivoted'within the.

of the bolt, and a compression spring Within In testimony whereof I have hereunto the housing at the rear of the detent and signed my name in the presence of two subaoting at right angles thereto to press the scribing Witnesses.

detent into engagement With the bolt, Where- ROBERT S. MOUNCE. by the bolt will sustain the' normal spring Witnesses:

pull of the roller but will yield to abnormal R. F. HAYES,

strain. KATHERINE Pnms'rnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

